YOUTH PREVIEW: SHREWSBURY TOWN (A)

The Saddlers will make the short journey to rivals Shrewsbury Town this Saturday for our youth team’s first cup game of the season.

The youngsters will take part in a new format of the youth cup competition which sees them in a group with Burton Albion, Mansfield Town and Saturday’s opponents Shrewsbury Town.

It's the first of two away games that Neil Woods’ lads will play in the group with the only home game coming against Burton Albion in September.

“It’s a new cup format they have brought forward in terms of the groups which is a different situation for the boys to deal with,” said manager Woods. “It’s a mini group where we play two away and one at home.

“All round it will be a good challenge and we’re all looking forward to it.”

However, Woods and his men are under no illusion to the challenge that the Shrews will offer.

“We know Shrewsbury are a very good side and they are very well coached.

“They play a slightly different system usually where they play three at the back.

“I have a lot of respect for the guy that runs them. He has turned the club and the youth side around in the last two or three years.”

With it still being early days in the season, Woods is still experimenting with his side and wants to give every player the chance to impress.

“The likelihood is that there will be a change or two for Saturday,” explained Woods. “We’ve messed around with a few things and different players offer different things on different occasions.

“If there are changes then the players coming out of the team are coming out for the right reasons. Nobody will be coming out because of performance reasons.”

Saturday’s game is an 11am kick off at Shrewsbury Sports Village and updates of the game can be found on Twitter at @JakeSportsJourn.